Photographic printing machine



March 14, 1944.

G. P. GROVER PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Juvumntoz ii Garrison Grover March 14, 1944. e. P. GROVER PHOTOGRAPHIC PR INTINCr MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M W W a 5 41 #0 u. I X i E t 5 P v IUIIHHIHIGHHHNUIII- w llrinllll m P 5 aw m i g 3 Garrison P. Grover Patented Mar. 14, 1944 2,344,405 PHOTOGBAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Garrison 1'. Grover, Minneapolis, Minn. Application November 17, 1941, Serial No. 419,455

BClaims.

My invention relates to photographic printing machines and has for an object to provide a highly practical and serviceable machine for the purpose.

An object of the invention resides in providing a photographic machine having a planiform transparent member for supporting a negative.

and a platen movable toward said support to bring a sensitized sheet of photographic printing paper in contact with the negative and in further providing a plurality of pressing members, each movable toward and from the support and engaging the platen at a diiferent position to distribute the pressure uniformly upon the platen and produce intimate contact between the negative and the sheet of sensitized printing paper throughout the extent thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a single operating member for operating the various movable parts of the invention, whereby precise timing and unity of operation of all parts of the invention is procured.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a constantly driven feed roll for moving the printing paper through the machine and in providing a pressure roll periodically movable toward and from the said feed roll to procure movement of the paper.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a number of electric lights for printing the sensitized paper and in providing a timing device ,for shutting. off said lights after the sensitized sheet has been printed.

An object of the invention resides in providing means for adjusting the period of time measured by said timing device.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a machine with a case supporting the operating mechanism of the device and in employing a removable drawer within the case and supporting a transparent support for the negative andv a screen for use in conjunction therewith.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a photographic printing machine illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 215 a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. F 1

, for the negative.

front wall I5 by Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken on line 5--5"of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the invention. My invention comprises a case l0 having a "bottom H, a rear wall l2, side walls I3 and I4 and a front wall I5. These walls may be connected together in any suitable manner and may be constructed of wood or any other suitable material. The front wall i5 falls short of the uppermost portion of the case to provide an opening 11 into the interior of the case and at the front thereof which opening is designated by the reference numeral 18. A door l9, connected to the means of hinges 2| serves to close the opening 18. A knob 22 attached to said door permits of opening and closing the same and a suitable latching device (not shown) holds the door in closed position.

Secured to the interior of the case I are a number of rails 23 which extend perimetrically about the walls of the case intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and which divide the case into an upper compartment 24 and a lower compartment 25. In the lower compartment 25 are mounted a number of electric light sockets 26, having suitable electric lights 21 in the same. The rails 23 form a support for a rack 28, which is in the form of a drawer and may be inserted into the compartment 24 and removed therefrom through the opening l8 in case 10.

The rack 28 is U-shaped in form and consists of two runners 29 connected together at their rearward ends by means of a connecting piece 3i. The runners and connecting piece are of substantially the same width as the width of the rails 23. .Attached to the uppermost portions of the runners 29 and the connecting piece 3| is a frame 32 rabbeted as indicated at 33 to receive a plate of glass 34, which serves as 'a support The height of the runners 29 and connecting piece 3| and of the frame 32 is such that the upper surface of the plate of glass 34 becomes disposed at the uppermost portion of the case l0 and flush with the upper edges of the walls 13 and I4 of case Hi. This plate of glass is secured in the frame 32 in any suitable manner. The electric lights 21 are so disposed that the light rays from the same pass upwardly and through the plate 34. In the runners 29 and also in the connecting piece 3| are formed grooves 35 in which may be placed suitable screens which control the flow of light from the electric lights 21 through the plate 34. The rails 23 form a light break between the case It and rack 28, preventing light from passing between the runners 28 and the walls I3 and I4 of the case, thus preventing exposing of the sensitized sheet outwardly of the negative.

The negatives from which the prints are to be made are placed directly upon the uppermost surface of the plate of glass 34 and secured thereto by means of suitable adhesive applied directly to the glass or negative or by means of adhesive tape or in any other suitable manner. The sensitized paper used for printing is indicated by the reference numeral 38 in the drawings and passes over the negative carried by the glass plate 34. The bulk of sensitized paper is in roll form, as indicated at 81 and the portion 38 is unrolled therefrom as the same is used. The construction for supporting and feeding the paper will now be described.

Attached to the upper edges of the side walls I3 and I4 by means of screws 38 are two supporting bars 4| and 42. These bars have proiecting portions 43 extending outwardly beyond the side wall l4, which are formed with bearings 44 rotatably supporting a shaft 45. Mounted on this shaft is a roll 48 of suitable resilient material, such as rubber or the like, which is so situated that the lowermost element thereof is substantially at the plane of the upper surface of the glass plate 34 and at the plane of the sheet of sensitized paper 38. Below the roll 48 are two maller pressure rolls 41 and 48, which are rotatably mounted on spindles 5i secured to two arms 52 and 53 disposed on opposite sides of the machine and straddling the case Ill. The arms 52 and 83 are pivoted on stub shafts 54 secured to the rear wall I2 of case I and to the forward edge of the side wall I4 of said case by means of screws 55. The arm 52 forms part of a lever 88 which has another arm 51 projecting outwardly therefrom. The arm 51 is adapted to be engaged by a cam 58 to be presently described in detail by means of which the two pressure rolls 41 and 48 are urged toward the feed roll 48. A compression coil spring 58 serves to withdraw the rolls 41 and 48 from engagement with the roll 40 and maintains the arm 51 in engagement with the cam 58. This spring is secured at one end to one of the spindles i and at its other end to a screw eye 8| secured to the side wall I4 of case iii. I

The roll 31 of sensitized paper is wound on a tubular core 62 which has a fairly large central hole 83 therein. The roll 31 is rotatably mounted on a spindle 84, which passes through the hole 83 in core 82 and which is received in openings 1I and 12 in brackets 68. The brackets 86 are attached to the side wall I3 of case I0 by means of screws 81, best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The opening 1| opens upwardly so that the spindle 64, with the roll 31 mounted thereon, may be readily mounted in the openings in the said brackets. This spindle 04 is formed with shoulders 88 near its ends which engage the said brackets and restrain endwise movement of the spindle. The spindle 04 is so situated that the uppermost element of the roll 31 is substantially in the plane of the uppermost surface of the plate of glass 34.

In the exposure of the sensitized paper, it becomes necessary to place the same in intimate contact with the negative. For this purpose, a platen 13 is employed which is provided with a flexible facing 14 of rubber, felt or some similar cushioning material. This platen has attached to it four guide rods 15 which extend upwardly through. suitable openings 18 in two cross bars 11 and 18 secured to the supporting bars H and 42 by means of screws 18. Springs 8i encircle the said rods and are seated at their lower ends against the bars 11 and 18 and at their upper ends against washers 82 encircling said rods and held in position thereon by means of cotter pins 83. These springs serve to draw the platen 13 upwardly to relieve pressure upon the sheet of sensitized paper 36 and to permit the feeding thereof by means of the feed roll'48.

Extending across the platen 13 and adjacent the bars 15 are two shafts 84 and 85 which are journaled in bearings 86 formed on the supporting bars 4I and 42. Each of these shafts has two cams 81 on it, which cams are adapted to engage the upper surface of the platen 13. When the shafts 84 and 85 are rotated, the cams function to force the platen downwardly and to exert pressure'upon the sensitized sheet 46 forcing the same into intimate contact with the negative mounted on th glass plate 34.

The two shafts 84 and 85 are driven in unison by means of a chain 88 which passes over two sprockets 88 and. 8i, secured to the said shafts 84 and 85, respectively. These two sprockets are the same size, so that the two shafts run in the same direction and at the same rate of sp This causes all of the cams 81 to travel in unison and the platen to move vertically in parallelism with the upper surface of the glass plate 34.

For the purpose of driving the various parts of my improved photographic printin machine, I employ an electric motor 82, shown in Fig. 1. This motor has a base 84 which is bolted to a bed plate 85 secured to two cleats 93 which extend below the bottom II of case I0 and are secured thereto. Ihe motor includes a transmission reduction unit 81 which is provided with a drive shaft 88 traveling at a greatly reduced rate of speed. Inasmuch as the construction of the motor 92 and the reduction of the transmission 81 are well known in the art and form no particular feature of the invention, the same have not been shown in detail in this application.

The shaft 98 has secured to it a bushing 88 which has attached to the end of it a. sprocket IN. This sprocket drives a chain I02 which meshes with said sprocket and which also meshes with a sprocket I03 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft I04 attached to th rear wall I2 01 case Ill. The said chain additionally meshes with a sprocket I05 secured to shaft 45, .a. sprocket I08 secured to shaft 84 and another sprocket I01, rotatably mounted on another stub shaft I08 also secured to wall I2 of case I0. When the motor 82 is operated, all of these sprockets are rotated and the various parts connected therewith are driven.

The sprocket I03 has secured to it the cam 58 previously referred to, which, when the said sprocket is rotated, swings the lever 55 to move the rolls 41 and 48 toward the feed roll 46 to bring the paper in engagement therewith to procure travel of the paper.

The sprocket I01 has attached to it a disk I08 which is .provided with a. number of spaced holes IIO arranged in the arc of a circle. This disk has permanently attached to it on the front side thereof a pin III and on the rear side thereof a pin II2 which is insertable into any of the holes H0 in the said disk. These pins operate a switch H3, which consists of a tube of mercury II4 adapted to open and close a circuit through two contacts H5 and H6. Th tube H4 is mounted until the cams 31 on a tube holder II1 which II3 secured to a standard I plate 33 by screws I23. depending arm I2I which is formed with a notch I22 therein adapted to receive a pin I23 secured to the standard II3. By means of said notch, the extreme movements 01 the switch II3 are controlled, so that the circuit through the contacts II! and H6 are either open or closed when the tube holder is in its extreme position. Acting between a hook I24 on the holder 1 and another hook I26 on the standard H3 is an over-center spring I23 which urges the switch tube to assume either of its extreme positions.

The holder II1 has attached to it an arm I21 which is provided with two fingers I23 and I23 issuing therefrom and best shown in Fig. l. The finger I23 lies in the path of movement of the pin III, while the finger I23 lies in the path of movement of the pin I I2. It will thus be comprehended that the switch II 3 is shifted from open to closed position and vice versa through the disk I33, as the same rotates and that the time during which said switch remains closed depends upon the particular hole III) of disk I33 in which the pin H2 is inserted.

The circuit for operating my improved photographic printing machine is shown in Fig. 8 and includes a line I33 having conductors I'3I and I32, which line is energized from any suitable source of electric current. The conductor I3I is directly connected to the contact II6 of switch H3. The various lights 21 are each connected in a branch circuit I33 which branch circuits are connected to the conductor I32 and to another conductor I34, which, in turn, is connected to the contact I III of switch H3. The circuits I33 also include manually operated switches I 35. by means of which one or more of the lights 21 may be connected to or disconnected from the circuit. The motor 32 is connected in a branch circuit I36 which is connected across the conductors I3I and I32 of line I33. This circuit also includes a manually operated switch I31, by means of which the said motor may be energized.

The manner of using my invention is as follows: When the machine is first started, the motor is first allowed to run a sufilcient length'of time permit the platen 13 and facing 14 to ascend and clear the negative on the glass plate 34 and is then stopped. The roll 31 of sensitized paper is then slipped over the spindle and the same inserted into the openings H and 12 on brackets 63. The sheet 36 is then fed through the machine over the negative, which is mounted on the glass plate 34 and the said sheet finally threaded in between the feed roll 46 and the pressure rolls 41 and 43. The machine may now be run continuously. Upon feeding of the paper along the negative, the platen 13 remains in its ascended position. During this procedure, the switch H3 is shut off as shown in Fig. 3, and the electric lights 21 are out, so that movement of .the paper without exposure is procured. When the arm 51 reaches the low spot of the cam 53, the rolls 41 and 43 are moved away from the roll 46 and feeding of the paper terminates. The platen 13 then descends and clamps the sheet 36 of sensitized paper against the negative. As soon as this occurs, the pin III on disk I 33 engages the finger I23 of arm I21 and swings the switch I I3 in a manner to close the circuit thereis pivoted on a pintle I3 attached to the bed through. Exposure of sensitized sheets now occurs and continues until the pin II2 strikes the The mounting II1hasa I as new and desire to ment of the platen I out of the machine.

It will readily be comprehended that by use of suitable screens, which are mounted in the grooves 33 of the rack 23, suitable photographic eiIects may be procured. In the mounting-of the film on the plate 34, the rack is removed from the case III. Upon use, the rack is inserted back into the case and the door I3 closed. If it becomes desirable to vary the amount of exposure, the same may be accomplished by shifting the pin I I2 into another of the openings H0 and also by controlling the number of lights used by means of the switches I35. Since my machine is motor-driven, it will be comprehended that the same will operate continuously and make successive exposures on the sensitized sheet which passes over the negatives on the glass plate 34.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The machine is extremely simple in construction and is highly practical and eifective in use. By means of the four cams employed which engage the platen at different localities, movement of the platen in parallelism with the surface of the glass plate and film is procured. All of the operating parts of the invention being driven by a single driving member, unity of operation and positiveness in action results. Applicant, with his novel feed device, produces positive movement of the printing paper through the machine and causes accurate arrest of the paper, whereby waste of the paper is minimized. By means of the timing mechanism utilized by applicant, the

of light to expose undesired portions of sensitized paper is prevented.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photographic printing machine, a transparent support for a negative. aplaten superimposing said support, means for guiding said platen for movement toward and from said support, a plurality of spaced shafts geared to each other and extending across said platen, each of said shafts having a plurality of cams thereon, all of said cams having corresponding cam surfaces adapted to produce uniform movetoward the support, a sprocket on one of said shafts, a feed roll, a sprocket for driving said feed roll, and a single chain meshing with all of said sprockets for operating said cams and feed roll and means cooperating with said feed roll for rendering the same effective during disposition of the platen away from said support.

2. In a. photographic printing machine, a transparent support for a negative, a platen superimposing said support, means for guiding said platen for movement toward and from said sup;- port, a plurality of spaced shafts geared to each portion of the sheet other and extending across said platen, each of said shafts having a plurality of cams thereon, all of said cams having corresponding cam surfaces adapted to produce uniform movement the platen toward the support, a sprocket on one oi said shafts, a feed roll, a sprocket for driving said feed roll, a pressure roll, means for urging said pressure roll against said feed roll, said means including a sprocket, and a single chain meshing with all of said sprockets for causing movement oi said pressure roll toward the feed roll when the platen is disposed away from the support and movement of the platen toward the support when the pressure roll is away from the reed roll. -t

3. In a photographic printing machine, a case having a transparent support for a negative, a feed roll carried by; said case for moving a sensitized sheet toward the negative, means for continuously rotating said reed roll, a lever pivoted to said case and having two arms, a pressure roll journaled in one of said arms and adapted to be moved toward and from said feed roll and means engaging said other arm and periodically swinging said lever to bring said pressure roll into engagement with said ieed roll.

4. In a photographic printing machine, a case having a transparent support tor a negative, a platen superimposing said support, means carried by said case ior guiding and periodically moving said platen toward and from said support, a teed roll carried by said case, means for continuously rotating said feed roll, a lever pivoted to said case and having two arms, a pressure roll Journaled in one of said arms and adapted to be moved toward and from said ieed roll, a cam adapted to engage the other arm or said lever and serving periodically to bring said pressure roll into engagement with said feed roll in synchronism with the movement of the platen.

5. In a photographic printing machine, a support for a negative, means for guiding a sheet of sensitized paper along said negative, a feed device for causing movement 01 said sensitized paper, an electric light for printing said sensitized sheet, a circuit including a siwtch for energizing said light, said switch having a movable part, a, revoluble member, a lever connected to said movable part and having two fingers there on, two lugs on said revoluble member, one of said lugs being adapted to engage one finger and move the movable part of the switch into closing position, the other 0! said lugs being adapted to engage the other finger and move the movable part 0! the switch into opening position.

port for a. negative, means for guiding a sheet of sensitized paper along said negative, a feed device for causing movement oi said sensitized paper. an electric light for printing said sensitized sheet, a circuit including a switch for energizing said light, said switch having a movable part, a revoluble member, a lever connected to said movable part and having two fingers thereon, a lug on said revoluble member adapted to engage one 01 said fingers to move said part of the switch to closing position, a plurality of circumierentially arranged holes in said revoluble member and a pin' insertable into any of said holes for engag g the other finger to move the movable'part of the switch into opening position.

7. In a photographic printing machine, a support for a negative, 9, platen movable toward and from said support, means including a sprocket ior so moving said platen intermittently to engage the same with a sensitized sheet overlying a negative on said support, a feed roll having a sprocket, a pressure roll intermittently engageable with said feed roll, means including a sprocket for actuating the pressure roll, said rolls cooperating to advance said sensitized sheet along said support at the time of disengagement of the platen from the sheet, electric illuminating means for causing the printing oi. said sensitized sheet through said support and the negative thereon, a circuit for energizing said il1uminating means, said circuit including a switch, ad- Justabie switch actuating means including a sprocket, and a single drive chain meshing with all of said sprockets and through the same causing the actuation of their said respective means.

8. In a photographic printing machine, a case having an opening at the top thereof, means for teeding a strip of sensitized paper across the top of said case from end to end thereof over said opening, said feeding means including parts disposed at one side oi the case, said case having a doorway in the other side thereof and a door for closing said doorway, a drawer horizontally slidable sidewise into and out of said case through said doorway, a transparent support for a negative carried by said drawer and having its supporting surf ace in a plane subjacent to that of said strip of sensitized paper, and illuminating means within the case beneath the drawer, said drawer, when outwardly drawn, oiisetting said 6. In a photographic printing machine, a suptransparent support to one side of said strip or paper in an accessible position unobstructed thereby.

GARRISON P. GROVER 

